Dog is My Co-Pilot

Riley and I are off to North Carolina Saturday morning. Just before we left for California this month, I had a meeting with his boot camp trainers.

Here’s the problem. In our pack of two, Riley is the alpha.

Ok, you can stop laughing now.

I am told that I must exert my authority in ways that he understands.

For example:

No more sleeping in bed with me.The first night of this plan, he looked so confused and pathetic. He did go to sleep in his bed on the bedroom floor. But when the alarm went off I noticed he was back in bed with me. I love to sleep with Riley but he has decided that the bed is his territory and acts out if I try to move him. Since being alpha means you get the most comfortable part of the bed, I get relegated to the edge. Unless I move him. Oh, an ugly scenario, too.

I have to decide when to play fetch, with what toy and when to stop. But he’s very cute when he brings his toy over to be thrown. And he does look a little befuddled if he brings me the bouncy ball and I throw the Kong.

Only 4 toys out a time. Riley has every toy known to man. I am not kidding. And he chooses from his toy box. Or used to. Now I choose from the 4.

No attention when he barks. Ignore him. That should work really well when he’s barking his nappy head off in Helen’s N.C. house.

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